Feature

ONNESHA Your Child's Next Love!

Sameirah Nasrin Ahsan

JULY 25. I stared at the calendar impatiently. Two more days. Ugh. I was so impatient for that day to arrive that I chewed out the lead from the pencil on my hand! To be able to relive those days again, even for a few hours; to be able to see those smiles, hear the laughter and just be young and carefree again. I lost myself in the reverie. No, I am not an old woman of seventy, reminiscing. But it does feel so long ago when I was in high school. Closing my eyes I can still see everything as though through the eyes of a stranger. The blackboards, the grey desks, the orange swings and the large field we had run abound in, as free as young colts in the meadow.

That one name, the one that labels every picture in the wall of my memory, has embedded itself within my very being: ONNESHA. I am everything I am today, because I met Onnesha, my “next love”, as her slogan goes. Onnesha has given me education that will build my future, she has introduced me to dedicated mentors who have shaped me, and she has given me friends who I will cherish until the day I die and beyond. We, the students of Onnesha are grateful for these wonderful gifts that have colored our lives with happiness and promise.

Maybe that's why, despite the years, none of us, students of Onnesha, regardless of batches have been able to erase the memories associated with our school years. July 25 arrived with a downpour of tears of the sky, tears of joy as all of Onnesha gathered under one roof for a reunion which was much needed. The get-together was arranged at Casa Blanca restaurant in Gulshan. Former students from various batches arrived, all faces taut with anticipation as if it was the first day of school all over again! It was a warm feeling to watch faces light up with smiles in recognition of long lost faces. And what was most amusing was watching fellow school mates arrive with spouses and children! Ah, how time flies like a bird on the wing!

We were so engrossed in catching up to lost time that food was forgotten the whole time until a lot later. When we realized how expensive the food was, we became determined to eat our money's worth! It was rather comic to see young adults acting like children and shoveling down their shares! We chirped like birds at dawn, once or twice breaking into insane laughter, wolf-whistles weren't strangers either. For a moment I was anticipating the restaurant authority or one of the other customers to come and ask us to “please be quiet”. But none of that happened; I guess the other customers in the restaurant also understood our urgency!

Onnesha, as I learnt that day, have spread her reach far and wide, both within Bangladesh and beyond. Former students are currently successfully completing their higher studies in IBA, Dhaka U, NSU, IUB, Shanto-Marium, U of London, Boston U, U of Windsor, U of Toronto, De La Salle U, U of Bristol, London College of Accountancy, London School of Legal Studies, U of Northumbria, U of Texas, New York U and many more. These upcoming engineers, designers, lawyers, doctors, entrepreneurs and economists gathered that day to celebrate their cherished childhood and adolescence in Onnesha.

Our fellow Onnesha student, Rashna Rafiq was so hyper that day that she crossed to the other side of the counter and helped herself to the ice cream! The presence of old allies must have given her unnecessary courage! Nabil Ahmed played waiter, while Shaharia Arefin and Monem Khan became professional photographers! I, along with Akhterunessa, Sumaya Begum, Rubaiyat Siddique and Tanzina Nourin did nothing important but posed for photos! Nahid Apu was determined to feed everyone her share of the ice cream, which we politely declined! However, many of us couldn't escape from the hands of Rashna Apu as she shoved ice cream in our faces. It was also rather amusing watching our senior “apu”s and “bhaiya”s fight over a single banana split, while cameras clicked on them like they were celebrities! Laughter echoed and reechoed while ice creams disappeared! It was utter chaos and a jolly fun time, I must say!

Our reunion would remain incomplete without the presence of our Chairperson, Shirin Monem Khan and Principal, Nasreen Monem Khan. Our parents might have given birth to us, but it was these two great ladies and teachers of Onnesha who have shaped us. Therefore, we went to visit our Chairperson and Principal soon after our attack of Bask n Robbins. As they walked in, all of us stood up like respectful students. And suddenly the image before my eyes shifted. Instead of the cozy sitting room, I saw a classroom; a classroom full of students as we said “Good afternoon, Madam” in unison. The only thing that flawed the picture was the lack of Onnesha uniforms!

We talked about old times and future plans. Our mentors eagerly wanted to know of our current lives. My head flooded with incessant memories at the scene. It is amazing how Ms. Nasreen and Ms. Shirin haven't changed a bit. They treated us with the same love, frequently awarding us with their motherly smiles. If I may borrow Rashna Apu's words, “They are as beautiful and loving as I remember them eight years ago!” I think that sums up what I'm trying to say.

I am glad this happened. I would like to thank Onnesha Alumni, my senior “apus”, Samin Ahmed, Anzara Siddiky, Rubaiyat Siddique and Rashna Rafiq for planning and making this reunion possible. Gratitude also goes to all of us who did our little parts in spreading the word. It was an amazing experience to see all of Onnesha, both Dhanmondi and Banani Branches under one roof again. Next time, inshallah, we will have Onnesha Mymensingh Alumni joining us as well! That day we remembered our pasts, celebrated our presents; and the future ahead looked so beautiful! With such mentors and friends that Onnesha has given us, it was easy to aim high. Like Ms. Nasreen Monem Khan always told me, “Look where the sun shines, the sky remains the limit!” Today the Onnesha Army marches ahead, Bravely, Cheerfully, Faithfully!

(North South University, sameirah@gmail.com)

A Trip to Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI)

Salma Mir

THE students of MS Biotechnology Program of BRAC University went on a study tour to Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) in Gazipur on 21st August 2008. Our course teacher Dr. Aparna Islam, Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (MNS), BRAC University, accompanied us.

Reaching BARI, we were received by Dr. Al-Amin, Principal Scientific Officer (PSO) of the Biotechnology Division and his team. At first, we were briefed about the institute and its various programs. BARI was established in 1983 and in 1998 the Biotechnology Division was setup. Dr. Md A. Yousuf Akhond, Senior Scientific Office, Biotechnology Division showed us the various research facilities and the growth room full of tissue-cultured and transgenic plants. He also showed us how they are evaluating transgenic Bt eggplant (resistant to stem and fruit borers) and RB potato (resistant to late blight pathogen). But the most exquisite and exciting moment was waiting for us in the Transgenic Greenhouse. We had the rare opportunity to compare the transgenic plants with their respective controls.

As students we start learning from the very basic to the most developed technologies. This tour introduced us to the very root of biotechnology and taught us how to start as biotechnology researchers to keep pace with the development in this very modern and cutting edge technology.

(Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, BRAC University)